Application Guide

Selection process

All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt 2 days after sending the latest. The selection process runs over 4 stages:

  1. An eligibility check will be performed according to the eligibility requirements of the call. Non-eligible applications will be sorted out, applicants informed about their rejection or acception for this stage about one week after the call deadline.
  2. A preselection by the Selection Committees will take place. There is one Selection Committee for each participating Research Area consisting of 5 members (two professors, two postdocs, Research Coordinator, at least one international member) representing the disciplines of the respective Research Area. They preselect from the applications for their Research Area. This takes place within the two months after the call deadline. Applicants will be informed about their rejection or acception for this stage right after the meetings.
  3. A Skype interview is conducted by two members of the Selection Committees with the top-rated candidates. The duration of interview is max. 45 minutes per candidate. The candidate will be asked to briefly present his/her proposed project and why he/she would like to pursue their project at Goethe University. They adjust the preselection and suggest the top candidates. These interviews take place month 2 to 3 after the call deadline. Applicants will be informed about their rejection or acception for this stage right after the interviews.
  4. The final decision is taken by the Supervisory Board, which consists of one member of each of the Selection Committees and is chaired by the university’s vice president responsible for the promotion of junior talent. The Board meets in the middle of month 3 after the application deadline. Applicants will be informed about their rejection or acception for this stage right after the meeting.

Selection criteria

Selection criteria for the preselection by the Selection Committees are:

Competence of the fellow

  • Quality and results of previous research with regard to the planned research project
  • Potential or recognized excellence evaluated with regard to previous research activities, publications and, if applicable, previous third-party funding raised by the applicant
  • The applicant’s scientific independence
  • International experience, research activities in an international context, transnational mobility
  • Additional evaluation criteria regarding teaching, supervision, teamwork, knowledge transfer, management experience, public awareness activities, intersectorial mobility, practical experience

Scientific quality of the planned research project

  • Novelty and originality of the planned research project
  • Impact and benefit to the fellow’s career
  • Precise goals, clear perspective of the project
  • Target-oriented use of research funds
  • Realistic time schedule of the project
  • Integration in the respective research context of Goethe University

For each criterion each member of the SC can assign up to three points. An average between the total sums of all Selection Committee members will be formed. All applications below 22 points in average are not considered for further interrogation.

Selection criteria for the Skype interviews are:

  • Convincing presentation of the proposed project
  • Convincing motivation for the application at Goethe University
  • Fitting of the aspired fellowship into the candidate’s future career plans
  • Convincing presentation of the candidate’s research experience
  • Personal fitting of the candidate into the respective research area


Three points between naught and three each can be awarded per criteria. An average will be formed. After the interviews, the ranking from the Selection Committee will be amended. Candidates ranked highest will be communicated to the Supervisory Board for final decision.

Ethical issues

Ethical issues are research on humans, research on human embryonic stem cells, research on animals, research on GMO or pathogens and research in developing countries.

So if you would answer one of the questions of this ethical issues table [LINK] with yes, please fill in the form and include it in your application.

The ethics committees at Goethe University will then perform an ethic review and identify necessary procedures to ensure observance of the ethical regulations as well as the successful implementation on your project if your application is successful.

The ethical issues table has no influence on the result of the application, but is to give an overview on the ethical issues concerned.

Checklist

Please make sure that in your choice of mentor that the person is affiliated with the research area.

Application form - check:

  • completed application form incl. applicant’s curriculum vitae and optional prizes/awards as well as own extramural funding, patents etc.
  • a letter of motivation (max. 2,500 characters)
  • a scanned copy of the doctorate degree expressly indicating the date on which the doctorate was awarded 
  • a scanned reference letter of one senior member of your current institution
  • Description of the project (max. 25,000 characters, spaces incl.) including a detailed working plan and financial overview on how the Research Cost Contribution (500 Euros per month for theoretical work, 800 Euros per month for lab-based work) will be used. 
  • Ethical issue table (only if you would answer one or more questions in the table with yes)

Please keep the file size down! Convert all the files into one pdf-file and name it like this:

Application_goin_surname_firstname